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A public resource guide
Every free and paid way to get rid of yard waste in Virginia Beach, verified October 2026.
Checked against Virginia Beach Public Works
3 days
minimum notice before your trash day; request through VB311 or 757-385-4650
5 p.m. to 7 a.m.
set-out window the evening before your confirmed date
Free
Landfill and Resource Recovery Center drop-off for residents, Tuesday to Saturday 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Every route for yard waste in Virginia Beach, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Virginia Beach guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Virginia Beach, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Virginia Beach scheduled bulky item pickup: yard waste
FreeYard debris is collected weekly in clear bags or bundled limbs, separate from bulky items. The landfill takes brush too (no tree removal debris over 6 inches).
Who qualifies: Households with City of Virginia Beach curbside collection. Apartments with dumpsters use private service.
How to schedule: Request a pickup through VB311 online (preferred), by calling 757-385-4650, or by email at wastemgt@vbgov.com, at least 3 days before your regular trash day (the city asks for two weeks when possible). Wait for the confirmation with a collection date before setting anything out. Free; the city asks you to batch items rather than request single items.
Limits: No published item cap for an ordinary household request. Freon appliances must be mentioned when you request so they get special handling.
Set-out: Just behind the curb line in front of your home, no earlier than 5 p.m. the day before your confirmed date and by 7 a.m. that morning, not in the street or on the sidewalk.
Virginia Beach Landfill and Resource Recovery Center: yard waste
FreeBrush and limbs accepted.
Where: 1989 Jake Sears Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23464, 757-385-1980
How it works: Tuesday to Saturday 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., free for Virginia Beach residents. Bulky items, appliances, electronics, metals, household hazardous waste, tires (4 per visit), clean concrete, brush, and porcelain.
Freemoval (free pickups through partner organizations)
FreeFreemoval funds free junk removal and cleanouts for households referred by trusted partner organizations, such as nonprofits, housing programs, and senior services. Families don’t apply directly. A partner submits the request and vouches for the need.
Status in Virginia Beach: Not yet available. Freemoval currently serves metro Atlanta and plans to expand nationwide.
How it works where it operates: One free pickup per household, covering yard waste, furniture, appliances, and bulk household items within standard LoadUp marketplace service. Funded by LoadUp customer round-ups and direct contributions, spent at standard LoadUp rates.
If you run a nonprofit or housing program in Virginia Beach: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Virginia Beach runs an unusually structured residential system: FREE Bulky/Large Item Pickup by appointment via VB311 with a 2-WEEK ADVANCE REQUEST (longer notice than most cities). Trash is collected weekly, recycling is collected biweekly, and yard debris is collected weekly on the same day as trash, without any special request needed. The City uses 95-gallon containers that residents must purchase for $75 each from Public Works Waste Management. Yard debris has a unique limit: one 4x4x4-foot pile of limbs per service week, limbs at least 4 feet long but no larger than 6 inches in diameter. Limbs UNDER 3 feet long can go inside the trash cart. Two free year-round drop-off centers: the Landfill & Resource Recovery Center on Jake Sears Road (Tue-Sat 7 AM-4:30 PM) and West Neck Recycling Center (Mon-Sat 7 AM-4:30 PM). This page walks through every legitimate option in order from free to paid.
The Virginia Beach rule for yard waste: Yard debris is collected weekly in clear bags or bundled limbs, separate from bulky items. The landfill takes brush too (no tree removal debris over 6 inches).
Program basics: No published item cap for an ordinary household request. Freon appliances must be mentioned when you request so they get special handling. Just behind the curb line in front of your home, no earlier than 5 p.m. the day before your confirmed date and by 7 a.m. that morning, not in the street or on the sidewalk.
What the city will not take: Remodeling and building materials (including sinks, toilets, carpet, and cabinets), hazardous waste, tires, propane tanks, cardboard, computers, vehicle parts, and boats. The city landfill takes most of those from residents.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: Virginia Beach Public Works: Bulky/Large Item Pickup, City of Virginia Beach: Bulky Item and Yard Waste Collection rules. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Why yard waste are different from ordinary bulk. Bundling rules are where most yard waste gets skipped. Branches typically must be under 4 feet long and 4 to 6 inches in diameter, tied in bundles under 40 to 50 pounds, and limited to a number of bundles per week. Leaves go in paper bags or carts, not plastic, in most programs because the material is composted. Plastic bags of leaves are the most common curbside rejection.
Three mistakes that get yard waste left at the curb:
Paid options cover stumps, large tree removals, and heavy loads of sod and soil.
Stump grinding
$100 to $400 per stumpGrinding a stump in place to below grade is cheaper and easier than removing it. The grindings can be left as mulch or bagged as yard waste where the program allows wood chips.
Mark utilities first. Call 811 before grinding near service lines.
LoadUp paid yard waste pickup
$80+For households who need same-day or in-home pickup, can’t wait 2 weeks for the City’s bulky appointment, have items the City won’t accept (private contractor work, large construction debris), or want full-service hauling, LoadUp offers professional removal in Virginia Beach with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your yard waste. No prep needed beyond pointing out what goes.
Pricing: Starts around $80 for a single item; full-truck pickups range from $300 to $600 depending on volume.
If you can pay for a pickup, your booking helps fund free pickups for someone else. Every paid LoadUp customer can opt in to round up at checkout, and 100% of round-ups go directly to Freemoval’s subsidized jobs.
Book yard waste pickup in Virginia Beach with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Virginia Beach proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Virginia Beach junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national yard waste disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for Virginia Beach: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Virginia Beach pick up yard waste for free?
Yes, weekly, in clear bags or bundles.
How much does paid yard waste removal cost in Virginia Beach?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single yard waste pickup in Virginia Beach starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households who need same-day or in-home pickup, can’t wait 2 weeks for the City’s bulky appointment, have items the City won’t accept (private contractor work, large construction debris), or want full-service hauling, LoadUp offers professional removal in Virginia Beach with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
How do I put yard waste out for pickup?
Leaves and clippings in paper lawn bags or the green cart, not plastic. Branches cut to the length limit (usually 4 feet), under the diameter limit (usually 4 to 6 inches), tied in bundles under 40 to 50 pounds. Check your city’s weekly bundle limit and season in the directory below.
Why can’t I use plastic bags?
Because yard waste is composted or ground into mulch, and plastic contaminates the product. Most programs require paper bags or carts; a few accept plastic bags that crews empty and leave behind.
Which states ban yard waste from landfills?
More than 20 states ban some or all yard waste from landfills, including Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Arkansas, and Delaware among others. That is why curbside programs are so common.
What do I do with a tree stump?
Grind it in place ($100 to $400), dig it out and take it to a transfer station as inert material, or list it free for someone who wants firewood or a planter. Most curbside programs exclude stumps and root balls.
Is this Virginia Beach page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Virginia Beach guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.